Save money on spine care with these gadgets

Spine care and self-care go hand in hand, especially between your appointments with massage therapists, chiropractors and other spine specialists. But what if there were better ways to relieve neck and back pain at home? Or even better, to reduce the number of appointments that you needed to make in order to find relief?

Get the most out of your health care budget with these out-of-the-ordinary gadgets for neck and back pain relief:

Acupressure mat

Do you feel skeptical about acupuncture? Acupressure might be for you. Instead of the small needles used in acupuncture, acupressure mats use small, plastic points embedded on a soft cushion for a low-impact treatment. Acupressure helps to:

• Stimulate targeted areas of the nervous system
• Balance energy flow in your body
• Reduce or eliminate muscle tension and pain

Get one: Shop around for an acupressure neck pillow and back mat to tackle both spinal areas at once. You can also stand on the mat to relieve the hidden tension in your feet.

Trigger point ball

You probably have that same old muscle knot in the same old spot — you know, the one that only your massage therapist can work out. Until now. With a trigger point ball, you can target even the smallest pressure point and relieve pain without leaving your living room. Here’s how:

• Replicate the muscle work a massage therapist would do
• Target specific trigger points anywhere in your body
• Get relief anywhere with this portable back pain relief product

Get one: Ask your doctor or local fitness store about your options for trigger point balls; they often come in various materials, textures and sizes for different parts of the body.

Portable neck and back stretcher

Who knew that laying down could be so productive? With a neck and back stretcher, you can undo all of the tension built up from sitting or standing in the same position all day. These products are small enough to stow under the bed and often come in various arch shapes, materials and textures. Get a neck and back stretcher to:

• Work out muscle pain and improve flexibility
• Reduce pressure on spinal joints
• Correct and maintain proper spinal alignment

Get one: Compare options online to find a product that works the upper and lower back to help maintain your perfect posture.

It’s possible to relieve chronic spine pain without a copay. These neck and back pain devices may take your treatment methods to the next level. But if you still feel like your spine condition is too painful, reach out to our spine care experts. Contact Laser Spine Institute for your free MRI review^* to find out if you’re a candidate for our minimally invasive spine procedures.